The Smart and Horford impact on the Celtics’ Game 2 win
Smart and Horford came back strong, leading the Celtics to their largest road playoff lead in franchise history at the half.
The Boston Celtics tied their Eastern Conference finals series with a huge Game 2 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.
After going down 10 points early in the first quarter, the Celtics outscored Miami by 35 in the last 19 minutes of the first half. They scored 70 points at half, marking Boston’s largest halftime lead on the road in NBA postseason history.
Game 1 of the 1985 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers was the last time the franchise reached 70 points.
Marcus Smart, Al Horford impact on Celtics
Marcus Smart and Al Horford’s return after missing Game 1 due to a foot sprain and health protocols, has given the Celtics just what they needed: “a calming presence” like coach Ime Udoka told reporters after the game.
The duo combined for 34 points, shifting the series back to Boston (1-1) and tying the Eastern Conference finals at a game apiece.
Boston “three” victory
The Celtics who are now 4-0 in these playoffs, made 20 shots from 3-point range to the Heat’s 10. They shot 9-for-11 from beyond the arc in the first quarter, marking their first time to make nine 3s in a first quarter in franchise history.
Horford, Smart and the Celtics welcome the Heat at the TD Garden for Game 3 on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET.